Aristotle's Concept of Chance

The first exhaustive study of Aristotle's concept of chance. This landmark book is the first to provide a comprehensive account of Aristotle’s concept of chance. Chance is invoked by many to explain order in the universe, the origins of life, even human freedom and happiness. An understanding of Aristotle’s concept of chance is indispensable for an appreciation of his views on nature and ethics, views which have had a tremendous influence on the development of Western philosophy. Author John Dudley analyzes Aristotle’s account of chance in the Physics, the Metaphysics, in his biological and ethical treatises, and in a number of his other works as well. Important complementary considerations such as Aristotle’s criticism of Presocratic philosophers, particularly Empedocles and Democritus, Plato’s concept of chance, the chronology of Aristotle’s works, and the relevance of Aristotle’s work to evolution and quantum theory are also covered in depth. This is an essential book for scholars and students of Western philosophy.

Cover

Title Page, Copyright

Contents

Preface

It is my great pleasure to acknowledge an immense debt of thanks to
Prof. Dr. G.J.Y. Debrock. His wisdom and virtue, of which I have been
the beneficiary for many years, can receive no adequate expression here.
I would like to express my gratitude in particular...

Introduction

The topic of chance is one with which all human beings are confronted
in day-to-day life. Everyone knows how it feels to have good
luck and bad luck, and everyone attributes certain unexpected outcomes
to chance. Chance is the spice of the plots of innumerable...

Part I: Chance in the Physics of Aristotle: The Metaphysics of Chance

1. The Doctrine of Phys. II, IV-VI

Aristotle’s main discussion of chance is that found in Book II of the
Physics, which may be described as an investigation into causes, as is
apparent from the first sentence of chapters 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8.1 Chance
must be examined...

2. The Structure of Phys. II, IV-VI

In this chapter the structure of Phys. II, iv-vi will be examined. I hope
to show that this structure can only be explained by means of a development
in Aristotle’s concept of chance. I shall argue that Aristotle
originally wrote...

3. Dating Phys. II, IV-VI

In the last chapter an attempt was made to show that Phys. II, iv-v
was written at a different stage of the development of Aristotle’s
thought to Phys. II, vi. In Phys. II, iv-v, in its original form, the term...

4. Necessity and Chance

In this chapter Aristotle’s concept of necessity will be investigated,
and the important question will be treated of the extent to which
Aristotle made room for contingency.1 The chapter will not provide
an exhaustive treatment of logical...

5. The Causes of That Which Occurs by Chance

In this chapter the aim will be to examine the kinds of cause at work
in chance events and chance substances. Chance events will be dealt
with in section (a). The two kinds of chance substance are monsters
and spontaneously generated...

Part II: Chance in the Ethics of Aristotle

6. Chance as the Source of External Prosperity

In Part I of this volume the doctrine of chance in Aristotle’s physical
works was examined. In Part II the function of chance in the ethical
works will be treated. It will be seen that in EE and MM Aristotle develops
a doctrine of chance...

7. Chance and Intuition

In the last chapter it was seen that external prosperity, which is a
requirement of happiness, is dependent upon chance. The extent to
which Aristotle makes happiness dependent upon external prosperity,
and accordingly upon chance...

Appendix II: Differences in the Role of Chance in NE, EE, and MM

Part III: Implications of Aristotle's Concept of Chance

8. Chance and Aristotle's Rejection of Determinism

In Part III of this volume some of the more striking implications of
Aristotle’s doctrine of chance will be examined. In Chapter 8 an inquiry
will be undertaken into Aristotle’s rejection of determinism. It
will be seen that Aristotle based...

Additional Note on Determinist Interpretations of Aristotle's Philosophy of Nature

9.Aristotle's Concept of Chance and Related Contemporary Questions

The aim of this chapter is not to study any questions relating to
science and philosophy in extenso or in their own right – since this
would require a separate volume for each question – but only as related
to Aristotle’s concept...

Conclusion

The present volume is the first full account of chance in Aristotle. No
previous treatment of chance has brought together the concept of
chance in the physical and ethical works of Aristotle. As chance is a
topic of importance in physics...

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